A legacy of innovation drives Ukraine’s resilience

Ukraine’s history of technological ingenuity is shaping modern warfare, making it an essential defense partner.

An FPV drone connected via a fiber-optic cable flies during Ukrainian military training in Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine, on January 29, 2025. Photo by Dan Bashakov/Getty Images

By Clarisa Sendy

Ukraine’s technological ingenuity dates back decades, with one of Europe’s first computers built in Kyiv in 1951 despite Soviet-era restrictions on Western knowledge. That resilient spirit continues today, fueling Ukraine’s thriving tech sector and its ability to withstand Russia’s prolonged invasion.

The history of Ukrainian innovation is explored in Innovation in Isolation: The Story of Ukrainian IT from the 1940s to the Present, a book commissioned by Oleksandr Kosovan, CEO of MacPaw, the company behind CleanMyMac. Kosovan sought to highlight Ukraine’s contributions to global technology, from AI-driven tools like Grammarly to advanced security systems like Ajax. But more than commercial success, this culture of technological adaptability has helped Ukraine hold the line in a brutal war with Russia.

Shortly after Kosovan met with Western partners in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a missile strike shattered the windows of MacPaw’s Kyiv office. Yet, Ukraine’s determination remains unshaken. The country’s ability to innovate under siege is proving critical not only for its survival but also for the future of modern warfare.

Ukrainian engineers and software developers are rapidly transforming commercial technology into military assets. Drones that can launch fire attacks, battlefield surveillance systems like Delta, and anti-drone jamming devices are just a few examples of the homegrown innovations keeping Ukraine in the fight.

“Tech guys are on the battlefield,” Kosovan said. “They know what is needed. They don’t rely on the government. They rely on volunteers that can supply something without even telling the government about it.”

This grassroots approach to innovation allows Ukraine to adapt faster than traditional military-industrial complexes in the West. According to Anton Verkhovodov, a partner at defense-focused venture capital firm D3, Ukraine assembled roughly two million drones last year in makeshift workshops. “No NATO partner has ever done that,” he said.

Ukraine’s expertise in drone warfare is now unmatched. Mark Cancian, a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel and senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Ukraine leads the world in developing battlefield-ready quadcopters. These drones provide critical intelligence, track enemy movements, and launch precision strikes at a fraction of the cost of conventional weapons.

Ukraine’s rapid battlefield innovations are prompting European governments to reconsider their approach to defense procurement. Rafael Loss, a fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, noted that European nations are increasingly interested in Ukrainian-made defense systems. The reason is clear: Ukraine’s tech sector operates at an innovation pace that far outstrips traditional Western arms manufacturers.

“The U.S. and Europeans are struggling to keep up,” Loss explained. Western defense companies can take years to develop a new weapon, while Ukraine’s wartime realities force it to iterate within weeks or even days.

This accelerated cycle of adaptation is why NATO and its allies must deepen partnerships with Ukraine’s defense sector. Kateryna Bondar, a former adviser to the Ukrainian government, argued that joint ventures and direct investments in Ukrainian arms manufacturing could not only strengthen Ukraine’s defense but also enhance NATO’s own military capabilities.

“Sourcing drones from Ukraine would save money, because they can be made there more cheaply than almost anywhere else,” Bondar said. “It would put tax revenue in Ukraine’s coffers, grow the economy, and most importantly, boost Ukraine’s ability to defend itself.”

Despite Ukraine’s ingenuity, manufacturing weapons during an active war presents significant challenges. Russian bombardments, power shortages, and China’s export restrictions on critical components all complicate production. However, Ukraine’s defense sector has found ways to adapt.

Last year, European nations purchased nearly a billion dollars’ worth of Ukrainian-made weapons through the Manufacturing Freedom initiative. This crowdfunding-style program has financed key military assets, including Bohdana howitzers and Palanyitsa long-range drones.

While the Biden administration has secretly invested in Ukraine’s drone industry, the U.S. government has yet to participate in Manufacturing Freedom. However, Ukraine’s battle-tested technology could play a crucial role in bolstering U.S. and NATO defenses against emerging threats from Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.

As Ukraine continues to lead in battlefield innovation, the question remains: will the U.S. recognize the strategic value of Ukraine’s defense technology? With President Trump now in office, his administration faces a critical decision—whether to maintain support for Ukraine’s technological advancements or risk ceding that ground to adversaries.

Ukraine’s ability to develop low-cost, high-impact defense solutions makes it a vital partner in securing Europe and beyond. If NATO and the U.S. invest in Ukraine’s tech-driven defense industry, they will not only help Ukraine win the war but also gain an edge in the evolving landscape of modern warfare.

Ukraine’s innovation has already rewritten the rules of combat. The West must decide whether to embrace this momentum or fall behind in the arms race of the future.

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